Int J Med Sci
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Growing research suggests that endometriosis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are both chronic inflammatory diseases and closely related, but no studies have explored their common molecular characteristics and underlying mechanisms. Based on GEO datasets, differentially expressed genes in the endometriosis cohort and the SLE cohort were screened using Limma and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and prediction signatures were constructed using LASSO logistic regression analysis, respectively. Four co-diagnostic genes (PMP22, QSOX1, REV3L, SP110) were identified for endometriosis and SLE. ⋯ Multifactor regulatory network of four co-diagnostic genes was constructed including 96 TFs, 42 miRNA, 43 lncRNA, and 189 drugs, and Tributyrin was found to act on four co-diagnostic genes simultaneously. We identified and validated four co-diagnostic genes and revealed the potential molecular mechanisms of endometriosis and SLE, which is helpful for early diagnosis and targeted therapy. Our study provides a novel perspective for individualized treatment of patients with endometriosis and SLE.
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While the gluten-free diet (GFD) is primarily used to treat celiac disease (CD), recent research suggests it may also offer benefits for autoimmune-related diseases (ARDs), though findings remain inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effect of a GFD against ARDs by Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis. ⋯ These findings suggest that GFD may help reduce RA risk by modulating specific immune cell populations. However, further research is necessary to clarify the exact mechanisms underlying these associations.
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Background: The progression and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) remain major clinical challenges due to a lack of effective therapeutic targets. Our preliminary study identified the upregulation of the propionyl-CoA carboxylase alpha chain (PCCA) gene in CRC, prompting further investigation into its functional roles. Methods: Bioinformatics analysis, colorectal tumor tissues, and CRC cell lines were used to determine PCCA expression. ⋯ Moreover, PCCA knockdown suppressed CRC tumor growth and lung metastasis, accompanied by an increase in M1-macrophage polarization. Conclusion: Knockdown PCCA inhibits the progression and metastasis of CRC, which is associated with EMT reversion, ERK/GSK3β signaling inactivation, and M1-macrophage polarization. These findings suggest that PCCA is a potential target for controlling CRC.
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Background: A more accurate assessment of extrahepatic metastases (EHMs) with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLMs) improve patient prognosis without unnecessary surgery and economic burden. At present, PET-CT can only be used as a second-line modality. We aimed to construct a predictive model for EHMs, and provide guidance for the selective application of 18F-FDG PET/CT. ⋯ The nomogram model achieved stable and accurate prediction results in the training and validation sets (AUC = 0.768 and 0.733), and was significantly superior to CEA and CA19-9. Moreover, the sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FDG PET/CT for the diagnosis of EHMs were 100% and 88%, respectively. Conclusions: We constructed and validated a nomogram on predicting the risk of EHMs in patients with CRLMs, which can guide clinicians to selective application of 18F-FDG PET/CT.
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Background: Carotene exists naturally in a complex mixture consisting of alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ)-isoforms. Previous studies investigated the effects of individual carotene isomers on bone rather than their actions in a mixture. Purpose: This study explored the bone-protective properties of palm carotene mixture using both two- and three-dimensional co-culture systems. ⋯ Palm carotene mixture also increased bone volume and osteoblast number in the three-dimensional co-culture system. Conclusion: Palm carotene mixture potentially exhibits beneficial effects on bone by accelerating osteoblast proliferation and suppressing osteoclast maturation. The findings of current study serve as the basis for the further validation through animal experiments and human trials.